Q & R: Belief VERSUS Practice, or Belief AND Practice?

Here’s the Q:
As a 20+ year employee of a conservative Evangelical organization, I may seem an unlikely one to appreciate your work. However, that is not the case.

I have long articulated what I believe to be a false dichotomy made during the fundamentalist-modernist controversy between the “beliefs” chosen by the fundamentalists and the “practice” adopted by the modernists. In reading “The Great Spiritual Migration,” I resonate so much with a large portion of what you embrace. Admittedly, I still find myself compelled to not abandon most of what might be identified as fundamental beliefs, but I resonate with the posture that sees Christianity as much larger than any of our theological systems, and see the desperate need for a movement to break the grasp that holds “evangelicalism” captive to valuing doctrine over practice. Candidly, I almost feel the same dichotomy coming from your writing but from the opposite perspective, as if one must “give up” certain beliefs in order to adopt a healthy posture toward justice, stewardship, etc. I, for one, do not believe that is the case.

I attend a mainline church, one that… ordains women, baptizes infants, is “open” to LGBTQ involvement… because I see them as healthier than any “evangelical” church in our area. While I am certainly in attendance as a “minority” with my beliefs, our pastor also embraces a distinction between “position” and “posture”… between what one personally understands scriptures to teach and one’s way of interacting with others who are at a different place on the journey. We constantly help each other be respectful of the way in which we portray those who believe differently (from either or both of us), while trying to attract those who might practice the faith well at every level.

In light of the nature of humankind and our “tribalism,” your writing doesn’t get much steam among the more conservatively theologically leaning part of the church… at least from what I observe. My question to you is, “Do you see leaving certain beliefs inherent in your message, or are there at least pockets of more theologically conservative Christ-followers who are embracing the call to practice a more widely-redemptive Christ-following well?” If there are, I’d love to connect with them to see how they gain traction in the movement among conservatives.

Your brother in Christ,

Here’s the R:

Thanks for your letter (and so sorry for the long delay in responding).

You asked, “Do you see leaving certain beliefs inherent in your message?”

Short answer: No. Most of the people I talk to, however, are struggling with being required to believe certain things, and it is for them that I am emphasizing that you can live the way of life Jesus taught and embodied with or without assenting to this or that group’s requirements. (That may be another way of affirming salvation by grace through faith, and not by works?)

You also asked, “Are there at least pockets of more theologically conservative Christ-followers who are embracing the call to practice a more widely-redemptive Christ-following well?”

Short answer: Yes. But if the Trumpcult continues to take over more and more of conservative Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox alike), more and more of these pockets will feel themselves squeezed to the margins. They’ll hear their “conservative Christian” fellows saying, “We have no king but Caesar,” and they’ll be forced to make some tough choices. I have no idea where this will lead, but I think the current situation is quite volatile, even where Sunday by Sunday, business as usual seems to reign.

The good news in this … I think we are closer to the conditions for a genuine spiritual movement of justice, joy, and peace than at any time in my life.

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ABOUT BRIAN

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for "a new kind of Christianity" - just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is an Auburn Senior Fellow, a contributor to We Stand With Love, and a leader in the Convergence Network, through which he is developing an innovative training/mentoring program for pastors and church planters.